Apparatus and method for inspecting closed containers

Abstract

An inspection device for inspecting containers with the container closures arranged thereon, has a lighting device which illuminates the containers to be inspected and an image recording device which is configured for recording spatially resolved images of the containers. The image recording device is at least also aligned with regions of the containers which are arranged in a longitudinal direction of the container below the container closures arranged on the containers, and an evaluation device is provided which is configured to, from at least one image recorded of the container provided with the marking, a relative rotational position of this container with respect to the container closure arranged on the container.

1 : An apparatus for treating containers, having a transport device configured to transport the containers along a predetermined transport path, having a filling device configured to fill the containers with a medium, and having a closing device which attaches closures to the filled containers, and having an inspection device which is arranged downstream of the closing device in the transport direction of the containers and which inspects the containers with the container closures arranged thereon, wherein the inspection device having a lighting device which illuminates the containers to be inspected and an image recording device which is suitable and intended for recording spatially resolved images of the containers,
 wherein   the image recording device is at least also aligned with regions of the containers which are arranged in a longitudinal direction of the containers below the container closures arranged on the containers, and a viewing direction of the image recording device encloses an angle of more than 20° with the longitudinal direction of the containers, in such a manner in that at least one marking provided on the container can be detected by the image recording device, and in that furthermore an evaluation device is provided which determines, from at least one image recorded of the container provided with the marking, a relative rotational position of this container with respect to the container closure arranged on the container.   
     
     
         2 : The apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein   the container to be inspected is arranged between the lighting device and the image recording device.   
     
     
         3 : The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 at least one marking arranged on the closure can also be detected by the image recording device.   
     
     
         4 : The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the evaluation device is configured to determine the relative rotational position of the container with respect to the container closure arranged on the container from an image taken by the closure provided with the marking.   
     
     
         5 : The apparatus according to at  claim 1 , wherein
 the inspection device comprises an evaluation device which is configured to determine a rotational position of the marking arranged on the container from the image recorded by the container.   
     
     
         6 : The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a viewing direction of the image recording device of a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the containers encloses an angle of more than 3°.   
     
     
         7 : The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the lighting device has a width selected such that it appears only slightly wider than the closure in a captured image.   
     
     
         8 : An inspection device for inspecting filled containers with container closures arranged thereon, having a transport device configured to transport the containers along a predetermined transport path, wherein the inspection device has a lighting device configured to illuminate the containers to be inspected and an image recording device which is configured to record for recording spatially resolved images of the containers,
 wherein   the image recording device is at least also aligned with regions of the containers, which are arranged in a longitudinal direction of the containers below the container closures arranged on the containers, and a viewing direction of the image recording device encloses an angle of more than 200 with the longitudinal direction of the containers, in such a manner in that at least one marking provided on the containers can be detected by the image recording device, and in that furthermore an evaluation device is provided which is configured to determine, from an image recorded of the container provided with the marking, a relative rotational position of this container with respect to the container closure arranged on the container.   
     
     
         9 : An Inspection arrangement for inspecting filled containers with container closures arranged thereon, having an inspection device according to  claim 8  and at least one container to be inspected, wherein the container closure arranged on the container has a first optically perceptible marking and the container has a second optically perceptible marking below a container mouth. 
     
     
         10 : A method for inspecting filled containers with container closures screwed thereto, wherein a transport device transports the containers along a predetermined transport path and an inspection device illuminates the containers to be inspected by a lighting device and an image recording device records spatially resolved images of the containers,
 wherein   the image recording device is at least also aligned with regions of the container which are arranged in a longitudinal direction of the container below the container closures arranged on the containers and a viewing direction of the image recording device encloses an angle of more than 20° with the longitudinal direction of the containers, in such a way that at least one marking provided on the containers is detected by   the image recording device, and in that furthermore an evaluation device determines from at least one recorded image of the container provided with the marking a relative rotational position of this container with respect to the container closure arranged on the container.   
     
     
         11 : The method for inspecting filled containers with container closures screwed thereto according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein   the determination of the relative rotational position of this container with respect to the container closure arranged on the container is carried out by a correspondingly trained neural network.   
     
     
         12 : The method according to  claim 10 , wherein
 statements about the quality of the closure process are made by statistical evaluations of the measured rotary positions.   
     
     
         13 : The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 at least one marking arranged on the closure can also be detected by the image recording device.   
     
     
         14 : The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the evaluation device is configured to determine the relative rotational position of the container with respect to the container closure arranged on the container from an image taken by the closure provided with the marking.   
     
     
         15 : The apparatus according to at  claim 2 , wherein
 the inspection device comprises an evaluation device which is configured to determine a rotational position of the marking arranged on the container from the image recorded by the container.   
     
     
         16 : The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein a viewing direction of the image recording device of a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the containers encloses an angle of more than 3°. 
     
     
         17 : The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the lighting device has a width selected such that it appears only slightly wider than the closure in a captured image.   
     
     
         18 : The method according to  claim 11 , wherein statements about the quality of the closure process are made by statistical evaluations of the measured rotary positions.